Sebastian Edge's Radiohead photo

UCA Maidstone graduate works with rock stars on their latest album

LEGENDARY rock band Radiohead have backed the project of a UCA Kent graduate after he created art work for their latest album.

Sebastian Edge, who graduated from UCA Maidstone in 2009 with a distinction in MA Fine Art, worked with the group last year and took the only publicity photograph for The King of Limbs LP.

The world-famous group, fronted by Thom Yorke, worked with Sebastian to make the pictures in Feb 2011, and have allowed him to sell prints of the image which will fund the North London Darkroom, a project to safeguard traditional photography techniques.

The black and white image was captured on glass using 19th century processing techniques and a large home-made camera which needs a three minute exposure.

Sebastian, who is also sessional tutor at UCA Maidstone, said: “The band wee really good to work with and got right into the process. Each photograph is like a conversation, almost collaborative, it was an interesting few days, which I won’t forget.”

“It was a difficult choice to make because it doesn’t feel right to cash in on someone else’s success, nor does it help you in the long run, but it seemed like a really good way to make the most of a high-profile project and raise funds for a photography project that I really believe in.”

The artist was approached by Radiohead, whose bassist, Colin Greenwood, has an interest in analogue processes and 19th century photography.

In 2011, a few days before The King of Limbs was due to be announced, Sebastian travelled to Oxfordshire where he spent several days at their studio and in local woodland to make the image.

He said: “I’ve been experimenting with photographic methods for years and had made a large camera that I thought would be perfect for the shoot.

“The band were really excited about the photograph and got into the shoot. It was an interesting process as it soon became a conversation with the band, rather than just a few pictures. The nature of the long exposures means subjects willingly submit to my photographs, but for this one, you can see they moved their arms move - it was an interesting response.

“It was a privilege to work with Radiohead. They understood my process and methods and through working with them I have come to understand a little of theirs. I feel very lucky that they saw something in a few pictures on my website.”

The North London Darkroom, which is based on Milmead Road, Tottenham Hale, houses specialist equipment and materials for those interested in hand-made photographic and printing techniques.

Sebastian remains coy about future projects with the band addig: “Once the North London Darkroom is up and running, I hope to carry on with my work, but I will be visiting New York in March to meet with the band on their American tour, so watch this space.”

For more information on The North London Darkroom, visit www.londondarkroom.com.